‘Designed’ cities: good practice or just good intentions?

Crace is a new development which will eventually accommodate about 4,000 people in 1,500 homes in Gungahlin. The development has been designed as an attractive, safe and sustainable ‘mini-city’, including features such as retaining 25% of total land for common use and a street design based on a ‘walkable grid’ to encourage its use by residents. The design of the city is intended to provide long-term benefits to the residents’ health and well-being, as well as be mindful of best practice in sustainable, environmentally thoughtful, urban design.

But is this true? Two teams from the University of Canberra and ANU School of Art are exploring the impact of the Crace design on the community growing within it. Field work such as site visits, interviews and other research were conducted by the teams this semester. Out of this work, artists involved in the field study program are presenting their work in progress in the foyer gallery of the School of Art. Learn more about the project and about research practices in the visual arts by exploring the exhibition over the next couple of weeks.

Crace: First Thoughts can be seen at the School of Art foyer gallery until the 21st of June 2014.

Gallery Hours:  Tues-Fri 10.30AM – 5PM , Sat 12-5PM, closed Sundays, Mondays & Public Holidays